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The Language Revolution at IIT KGP

The following text contains material that may be unsuited for certain audiences. Reader discretion is recommended.

Language in itself has been one of the most elusive subjects of this world. The language being a prerequisite for its own study makes it very interesting as well tricky. Tracking the growth of a language, its formations, changes, adaptations over the ages is many-a-time more difficult than say tracking the evolution chart of a species. Language evolves by itself, not necessarily by Darwinian principle of natural selection. Even local dialects develop and reform words to suit their usage in modified contexts. In other cases, a localized centre, which may be secluded as an entity, starts using words in varying connotations. Normal words take on different meaning when you cross the social boundary of such a centre. At times, whole new words are invented, with their meanings being ingenious and weird and sometimes outrageous.

It is here, at one of such social islands that language takes a brand new form. At around 135 kilometers from Kolkata, which used to be the capital during the British regime, is what used to be the largest district of the country before its divsions(S) -- Midnapore. A larger part of this district remains inconsequential in the bigger plan of the Universe. But, a part of the same district is also home to the so called "intellectual elite" of the country. As the more perceptive of you would have realized, this is IIT - KGP, and thankfully I am not the director. Practically secluded from the rest of the world, "smart, intelligent and innovative" students, are expected here to grow into "best engineers" in the world.

But, this haloed place ahs produced more than its fair share of engineers. It has also brought about societal revolutions, those in language being my primary concern. First few days, in the realm of campus life of KGP, throws in your face words and phrases that leave you amused as well as irritated. The most famous among them all is "load" and "peace". These unassuming words have acquired seemingly Martian meaning. "Load" has nothing to do with Newton neither has "peace" any relation with Gandhi. Going into actual usage, connotations, and etymology of these two words would be a thesis in itself. But here, I concern myself with a third word: "Makhana". The word more or less tries to convey a feeling of poorness, or something ill. The root word is "makh" and the language is Hindi. "Exam mein makha liye", "yeh banda ulti makhau hai", etc are certain common usage of the word. What interests me most is not the root word "makh", but its form "makhana". The reason being so that I feel I have tracked down the origin and development of this word. Those of you who have been patient this long would appreciate a little more effort of mine.

In Devnagiri script, "Makhana" would be written as:

All of us would no doubt accept that text above reads "Makhana". Now Hindi script is a bit more flexible and allows a few artistic modifications of its character. So "Makhana" is also:

Surely there would be no disagreement on this either. But a closer look shall reveal a few more things. It is like decrypting those puzzles in the Da Vinci Code. The above text can as easily be read "Marwana". Now the going into the meaning and usage of "marwana", is better left unsaid here. Those unaware about it should find it out on their own. But it is needless to say that the word "marwana" needed a substitute for certain situations, especially when you managed to step out of this social island. So it was for these times that "Makhana" was adopted, being less offensive, albeit a bit weird.

Who first used this modified form? That is a question some of the distinguished alumnus of this institute need to answer. Perhaps it all started with the father asking his son "how did the exams go?? He couldn?t have said "Marwa ke aa gaye" so said "makha ke aa gaye". But it must be said that, whoever it was, he (and not she) made a great contribution to the great language of this place. For all its worth, it may have been an accidental invention. None the less, it shows great vision on their part to adopt it in its current form and perhaps justifies the title of intellectual elite that has been adorned to this place.

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Sometimes, I just feel lucky to be born when I was, to be born in this time and age, to have seen so many contenders for the "Greatest of All Time" tag.

Lucky to be born in the age of Michael Schumacher and watch him beat record after record. To be born in the age of Lance Armstrong, for whom beating opponents and records was but a secondary feat. To be born in the age of Zinedine Zidane, most certainly the best of this generation, the marquee headbutt notwithstanding.

Lucky to have watched not one, but two legends, pass the baton in tennis.When Pete Sampras lost in the Wimbledon of 01, it made fans of him hate that pony-tailed guy for ending his quest for a 5th consecutive crown. I know I did. But Pete shouldn’t mind that now, for over the course of next 8 years or so, Roger has shown that when it comes to beauty on the tennis court he has got the entire WTA beat, by a long shot (down the line).